Active Member

Looking for an easy to use NAS for home media networking. I'll use this for things I don't even know about yet, but in the first place want to get all my media (mostly family photos and music) off my W7 laptop and XP PC into one place and back it up. I have a 500GB Buffalo external HDD, which i could use to back up the essential files (it's probably enough for the moment). Also want to access media on various Android devices and a networked blu ray player, av receiver and games consoles.

I'm tempted to just buy the Synology DS214se and 1 or 2 WD Red 3TB drives, which would set me back either £200 or £300. It's maybe overkill for even my future needs. Wanted to see what people may have here first as I'd probably rather spend less in the first place. Also any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Price and currency: <£100Location: Evanton

______________________________________________________
This message is automatically inserted in all classifieds forum threads.
By replying to this thread you agree to abide by the trading rules detailed here.
Please be advised, all buyers and sellers should satisfy themselves that the other party is genuine by providing the following via private conversation to each other after negotiations are complete and prior to dispatching goods and making payment:

Landline telephone number. Make a call to check out the area code and number are correct, too

Name and address including postcode

Valid e-mail address

DO NOT proceed with a deal until you are completely satisfied with all details being correct. It's in your best interest to check out these details yourself.

Active Member

Thanks nahco3, had seen your posts. Why would I go with your used older model 2-bay when I can get a newer model brand new with warranty for less than £30 more? Serious question ... not being provocative.

Active Member

Hi... can I ask how you are finding it? I too am looking at a similar system... I have an 1TB Iomega NAS which has been serving my Sonos system for a while now, but want to NAS everything up including 1TB worth of films and tv... so need more space. I was also looking and stuck between the Zyxel NSA325v2, the synology DS214se and DS213j... what made you plump for the Synology over anything else?
Sorry to nick all your research but i have been looking and looking and can't seem to come to a decision!

Active Member

Yeah I've been researching for a while (and standing on the shoulders of giants too). I went for Synology mainly for the operating system, but also because they seem to be good for quality and reliability. Bad reviews are like hens' teeth.

I was torn between 1 and 2 bay but when it came down to the 114 or 213j the choice made itself as they are very similar in specs. USB3 or 2 bays. The 214se had a couple of reviews which suggested it might struggle with multi tasking. The 213j seems universally liked. It draws less power than the 214 and costs £55 less.

I only just ordered today but have Prime so should be up and running tomorrow night. I'll post an update if you want.

Banned

The 214 is the best of all the ones you were considering hands down - hence the price. The 114 and 213j are almost identical and both much better than the 214se. If your storage needs are <4TB the 114 is probably a better deal as it is cheaper.

Active Member

The 214 is the best spec but for general home use I would be unlikely to see any significant performance gain from it. Nice in black too. Some expert reviews suggest that the the 213j outperforms its spec and this is backed up by what individual users are saying, including a mate of mine ;-) It seems to be the best buy of that generation. It'll be replaced soon tho.

Active Member

I'm only looking for a 2 bay model to run raid mirroring for security... everything will be stored on the NAS so need to make sure it is secure... it seems cost effective to have a 2 bay model rather than a 1 bay and a USB backup... so it looks like a 213J then... its really only going to be used for streaming films and music to one thing at a time but it will multitask if I need it to... Unless anyone else can make any other suggestions?? I was looking at the Zyxel 325v2... but that was about my only other option...